System for setting grading stakes

ABSTRACT

A system comprising components which facilitate a one-man stake ribbon setting process for grading a plot of land. The components include primarily a pair of rule holders which precisely position a rule immediately in front of a reference stake which has already had a ribbon set to accurately indicate exact grade. The rule holders, which cooperate with that reference stake, position the rule directly behind and in line with the grade locating nail and where it can be readily used to set the precise position of the ribbon requiring a second worker to hold the rule. An additional optional component of the invention comprises a sighting scope rule guide which is advantageously employed at the next stake to further enhance the accuracy of ribbon setting. This guide attaches to the sighting scope using a scope adapter and has a rule guide with an attached pointer showing the single worker the precise rule measurement on the rule when his scope is precisely level in viewing the ribbon on the remote reference stake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of land grading such as at new construction sites. The invention relates more specifically to a system for facilitating the setting of grading stakes by one worker.

2. Background Art

The proper grading of a plot of land at a new construction site is usually determined by architects. The desired ground level is typically designated at a plurality of spaced locations identified by nails or other point locaters. At each such nail an adjacent grading stake provides coded instructions as to how much ground dirt has to be removed or added to provide the designated height or grade at that specific location. The actual removal or addition of ground dirt is carried out by mechanized earth movers such as backhoes and the like. The operators of such vehicles cannot be expected to interpret the cryptic code of the instructions on each grading stake before removing or adding dirt at each location. Doing so would slow the grading process to a crawl which would make grading a much too expensive task.

In order to avoid the need for the earth mover operators to carefully read grading stake instructions and thus slow the use of expensive heavy equipment, workers first set a colored ribbon on each stake. The color and precise height of each such ribbon provides the operators with an easy to interpret, expedient indication of the desired grade at each stake. The color tells the operator that the grade should be one foot, two feet, etc. below or above the precise location of the ribbon. Moreover, by having workers first set the colored ribbons, one grading stake can be used as a height reference for others nearby, thereby reducing the risk that there will be grading errors from one stake to the next. In conventional ribbon setting, two workers are required. One worker sets the ribbon color and location on a reference stake after interpreting the architect's code on that stake while a second worker holds a measurement rule against that stake. The second worker then sets the ribbon color and location of the next stake by sighting the reference stake ribbon using a sighting scope with a built-in level. He then adjusts the ribbon according to the instruction code for that stake. The workers then repeat this process for all of the stakes in a plot of land. In that manner, all of the grading stakes over a large plot of land may be properly “ribboned”, while being based on a unitary reference height that assures accurate grading.

While this two-worker process reduces costs by expediting the use of expensive earth movers, the need for at least two grading setters to work together, is not an efficient labor expense compared to having one worker carry out this process in the same period of time. It would thus be highly advantageous if it were possible to carry out the ribbon setting process using only one worker who could perform this process in substantially the same amount of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system comprising components which facilitate a one-man stake ribbon setting process for grading a plot of land. The components include primarily a pair of rule holders which precisely position a rule immediately in front of a reference stake which has already had a ribbon set to accurately indicate exact grade. The rule holders, which cooperate with that reference stake, position the rule directly behind and in line with the grade locating nail and where it can be readily used to set the precise position of the ribbon requiring a second worker to hold the rule.

An additional optional component of the invention comprises a sighting scope rule guide which is advantageously employed at the next stake to further enhance the accuracy of ribbon setting. This guide attaches to the sighting scope using a scope adapter and has a rule guide with an attached pointer showing the single worker the precise rule measurement on the rule when his scope is precisely level in viewing the ribbon on the remote reference stake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a conventional grading stake prior to ribbon setting;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a grading stake with a rule held in position by a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the upper rule holder of the preferred embodiment with the stake and rule shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the lower rule holder of the preferred embodiment with the stake and rule shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a conventional sighting scope with a preferred embodiment of a guide shown both detached and attached to the scope; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the guide and scope of FIG. 5 shown being used on a rule for precisely leveling from a remote stake that has already had a ribbon set thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings and FIGS. 1-4 in particular, it will be seen that a conventional grading stake 10 is positioned immediately behind a locating nail 12 having a nail head 13, the stake being partially embedded in the underlying ground to find firm stationary support. In FIG. 2 it will be seen that a ribbon 14 has been placed at a selected location along stake 10, the position of the ribbon being made accurate relative to nail head 13 by a rule 16. In accordance with the present invention, rule 16 is held in place by a pair of holders comprising a lower holder 18 and an upper holder 20. As seen best in FIGS. 3 and 4, upper holder 20 comprises a stake receptacle 22 and a rule loop 24. Receptacle 22 fits over the upper end of stake 10 and rule loop 24 provides a channel through which rule 16 extends. It will also be seen that lower holder 18 comprises stake channel 26, a rule receptacle 28 and a nail head ledge 30. Stake channel 26 is configured to pass stake 10 through it. Receptacle 28 receives the lower end of rule 16. Nail head ledge 30 sits squarely on nail head 13 of nail 12 to assure proper alignment with the nail head.

An optional additional feature of the present invention is shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6. It comprises a scope guide 45 which affixes to a conventional sighting scope 40 having a level 42. Guide 45 may be selectively affixed to scope 40 by a pair of flexible loops 43. Guide 45 has an adapter 44 which mates with the scope, a rule slider 46 and a pointer 48.

As seen in FIG. 6, guide 45 affixed to scope 40 is held against the edge of rule 16 adjacent a stake 11. The scope and guide are jointly slid up or down the edge of rule 16 until the user sites the ribbon 14 of the remote stake 10 with the level 42 showing a level viewing direction. The pointer 48 then indicates on rule 16 the corresponding level on stake 11. A worker may then know with precision where on stake 11 there is an equal height location as compared to ribbon 14 on stake 10. He may then precisely place a ribbon on stake 11 using the equal height location as a precise reference point.

Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that numerous variations and addition as may be made to the invention while achieving the function and advantages of the disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the scope hereof is limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system for use in setting ribbons on grading stakes on a plot of land to be graded, each such grading stake designating the desired height of the grade at an adjacent location identified by a location pointer such as a nail head; the system comprising: a lower rule holder releasibly affixed to a grading stake adjacent said pointer; an upper rule holder releasibly affixed to said grading stake adjacent an upper end of said grading stake; each of said lower and upper rule holders having a rule retainer for receiving a measuring rule in alignment with said grading stake and said pointer; whereby one man can set a ribbon on said grading stake using said rule which is supported by said lower and upper holders.
 2. A system for holding a measuring rule against a grading stake to enable precise positioning of a grading ribbon on the stake by one worker; the system comprising: at least one holder having a first channel for receiving said stake and a second channel for receiving said measuring rule.
 3. The system recited in claim 2 comprising at least two said holders, one of said holders being configured for attachment to said stake closer to a selected first end of said stake and another of said holders being configured for attachment to said stake closer to a selected second end of said stake.
 4. The system recited in claim 2 further comprising a sighting scope having a level for viewing a ribbon on a remote first grading stake; and an adapter attachably affixed to said scope and having a guide for slideable engagement with a rule at an adjacent second grading stake for indicating on said rule a position corresponding to said viewed ribbon on said remote first grading stake.
 5. A system for use in setting ribbons on grading stakes on a plot of land to be graded; the system comprising: a sighting scope having a level for viewing a ribbon on a remote first grading stake; and an adapter attachably affixed to said scope and having a guide for slideable engagement with a rule at an adjacent second grading stake for indicating on said rule a position corresponding to said viewed ribbon on said remote first grading stake.
 6. The system recited in claim 5 wherein said guide comprises a pointer for precisely pointing to a location on said rule and wherein said pointer is aligned with said sighting scope. 